Headrest for a body supporting table

ABSTRACT

A pair of mounts for affixation at laterally spaced locations on a body supporting table, posts outstanding from the mounts and selectively positionable relative to the latter, arms extending angulately from the posts and movable therewith to selected elevations, and a sling extending between the arms for detachable connection thereto in head supporting relation over a body supporting table.

United States Patent [191 Glasser et al.

111 3,806,110 [451 Apr. 23, 1974 HEADREST FOR A BODY SUPPORTING TABLE [75] Inventors: Herman Glasser, New Hyde Park;

Patrick F. Panetta, East Islip, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Nuclear Associates, Inc., Westbury,

[22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,972

[52] US. Cl. 269/328 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 13/00 [58] Field of Search 269/322-328;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,598 8/1931 Berry 5/72 3,389,702 6/l968 Kennedy 269/328 2,509,086 5/1950 Eaton", 269/328 3,358,141 12/1967 Hoffman 269/328 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson Attorney, Agent, or FirmLilling & Siegel [5 7] ABSTRACT A pair of mounts for affixation at laterally spaced l0- cations on a body supporting table, posts outstanding from the mounts and selectively positionable relative to the latter, arms extending angulately from the posts and movable therewith to selected elevations, and a sling extending between the arms for detachable connection thereto in head supporting relation over a body supporting table.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I PATENTEI] APR 23 1914 SALE] 2 UP 3 PATENTEDAPR 2 IS 3.80s; 1 10" SHEET 3 OF 3 HEADREST FOR A BODY SUPPORTING TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While the structure and apparatus of the present invention have been primarily developed and employed for use in conjunction with surgical tables, such as scanning tables, and the like, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the instant apparatus is capable of many varied advantageous applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

In providing a headrest for a radioisotope scanner table, say to perform lateral, Anterior, Posterior, and Towns-view scans, it has heretofore been awkward, cumbersome, difficult and time-consuming to rearrange and readjust the patients headrest as required for the various operations. Further, prior headrest constructions have often precluded the most advantageous path of probe movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a headrest for a patient supporting table which overcomes the above mentioned difficulties, is quick and easy to adjust the various positions, entirely safe and reliable in operation, and which affords a high degree of freedom of probe movement for increased ease of operation and improved results.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from one side of a table including a headrest constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but partial and enlarged, and illustrating a patient in position on the table and headrest.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the patient in another position.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating structure of the headrest of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 6, but showing another embodiment of headrest structure of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a table is there generally designated 10, which may be of any suitable body supporting, surgical table, preferably having a transparent table top 11 mounted on legs 12, which, if desired, may be capable of vertical adjustment for raising and lowering of the table top.

Adjacent to one'end region of table top 11, the latter is formed with a closable opening 13, as by removal and replacement therefrom ofa suitable panel (not shown). A headrest, generally designated 15, is mounted on the table 10, generally adjacent to and extending over the tabletop opening 13.

More specifically, the headrest 15 includes a pair of mounts 16 respectively located in laterally spaced relation with respect to the tabletop 11, being suitably affixed to opposite longitudinal sides 17 of the tabletop. That is, the headrest 15 includes a pair of substantially identical mounts 16, so that a detailed description and illustration of one will suffice.

Each mount 16 is detachably affixed to a respective tabletop side member 17 as by a holding fixture 18, see FIG. 6, having an upwardly and outwardly opening recess 19, and being fastened to the side rail 17 by fasteners 14. An insert or bracket 20 is formed on one side, as with a T formation 21 for removable insertion downwardly into the holder or fixture recess 19. On its other or outer side the bracket or insert 20 is formed with a concave hollow 22, for a purpose appearing presently.

The mount 16 further includes an elongate, coaxially through bore cylindrical fixed member 25 having one region disposed conformably within the concavity 22 of bracket 20, so that the cylindrical fixed member 25 is disposed generally longitudinally and horizontally along the side rail 17. The fixed cylindrical member 25 may be secured to the bracket 20 in any suitable manner, as by fasteners 26 extending through the bracket and threadedly into the fixed member. The central through bore 27 of the fixed cylindrical member 25 may have one end region enlarged, as at 28, toward the lower end or foot of the tabletop 11. The other end region of the fixed member 25 may be castellated as by the formation of a circumferential array of teeth 29 having intermediate recesses 30 between adjacent pairs of teeth.

A shiftable generally cylindrical, centrally bored member 31 is arranged in end-to-end aligned relation with the upper or castellated end of fixed'cylindrical member 25. The central bore 32 of shiftable cylindrical member 31 is coaxially aligned with the bore 27 of fixed member 25, the upper or outer end of bore 32 being enlarged, as at 33, and the inner or lower end of the cylindrical member 31 being provided with a circu: lar array of longitudinal projections or teeth 35. A sleeve 36 is circumposed about the adjacent end regions of end-to-end aligned cylindrical members 25 and 31, the sleeve 36 being fixed to one of the members, say member 25, as by pins 37, and permitting of relative longitudinal and rotative shifting movement of cylindrical member 31 within the sleeve.

A pair of anchoring heads or enlargements 39 and 40 are respectively engaged in bore end enlargements 28 and 33, and a coil tension spring 41 is stretched between and has its opposite ends connected to respective anchors 39 and 40.

Thus, it will now be appreciated that the cylindrical member 25 is fixed or held firm against movement relative to the table 11, while the cylindrical member 31 is shiftable longitudinally outwardly away from the cylindrical member 25, in the direction of arrow 42 in FIG. 4, in which position the cylindrical member 31 may be rotated coaxially with the cylindrical member 25 to any selected angular position, and then returned toward the latter under the force of spring 41 for re-engagement of the teeth 29 and 35 in interfitting relation to positively maintain the member 31 against rotation relative to the fixed member 25.

An elongate member, rod or post 45 projects generally radially outwardly in an upstanding relation from the movable mount member 31. As illustrated, the post or rod 45 may be threadedly engaged in fixed relation with the movable member 31. Additionally, a generally longitudinally extending arm or cylindrical beam 46 is connected to the upper or distal end of rod 45 and extends therefrom generally normal thereto. That is, the rod, beam or arm 46 may threadedly receive the upper or distal end of rod or post 45 at a location adjacent to and spaced from one end 47 of the arm. The arm 46 may be selectively rotatable relative to its supporting post 45, and may be retained in a selected position of rotation by means of a threaded set screw or pin 48 having a manual actuation member or knob 49. The threaded element or pin 48 enters an axial hole 50 through the end 47 of arm 46 for engaging a dutchman (remotely activated rod) with the post 45, to prevent swinging movement of the arm 46 relative to or about the axis of the post. In addition, the arm 46 is provided with a covering of fastener fabric 51, such as the male element of the fabric fastening means commonly sold under the trademark Velcro.

As described hereinbefore and shown in the drawings, a similar mount 16 is provided on both sides of the tabletop 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shiftable cylindrical parts 31 are selectively located relative to the fixed cylindrical parts 25 so that the posts 45 extend substantially vertically upwardly, with the arms or beams 46 extending generally horizontally and longitudinally of the tabletop side members 17. In this condition, a flexible fabric 52 is extended between the arms 46, across and over the tabletop opening 13, the fabric being of a mating, complementary type with respect to the fastener fabric 51, as for detachable securement thereto. That is, the fabric 52 may have suitable loops for receiving securement with respect to the fabric 51, or otherwise be provided with complementary mating fabric fastener means. It is thus seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the headrest is adjusted so that the fabric sheet or sling 52 extends generally horizontally to maintain the swing at a raised or elevated position. Of course, the shiftable mount parts 31 may be selectively rotated to swing their arms 46 downwardly, for lowering the position of the sling 52 while maintaining the arms and sling generally horizontal. Further, with the posts 45 rotated to incline inwardly, the arms or beams 46 may be swung to incline inwardly, the arms or beams 46 may be swung to incline upwardly toward the adjacent table end, being suitably secured in their inclined position by means of the pins or holders 48, in the position shown in FIG. 3. It will there be seen that the sling 52 supports a patients head in an inclined relation, with the chin tucked in (Towns-view), as for certain medical purposes.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a mount is there generally designated 16a for securement to each side of the body supporting table, as long a table side member or rail 17a. The mount 16a includes a generally flat cover plate 18a secured by suitable securing means 14a in facing engagement with the table rail. A mount block is generally designated 20a and is formed with a pair of generally parallel passageways or grooves 21a and 22a extending in an inclined relation toward the lower or foot end of a body supporting table 11a. Further, the inclined parallel grooves or recesses 21a and 22a open upwardly through the mount block 20a, and further open laterally inwardly toward the fixed cover plate 18a. In assembly, the mount block 20a is in facing engagement with the cover plate 18a, the latter closing the inner' side of the passageways 21a and 22a, with the mount block being fixed in position as by fasteners 23 a.

It will now be appreciated that the passageways 21a and 22a define upwardly opening holes or sockets, for a purpose appearing presently. The hole or socket 21a may extend obliquely downwardly and open through the lower side of the mount block 16a, while the hole or socket 22a may have its lower end closed by a bottom wall defined of the material of mount block 16a.

An upstanding elongate member or post 45a may be of noncircular cross-sectional configuration, say square, for conforming endwise insertion into a selected one of the socket holes 21a and 22a. At an intermediate location along its length, the post 45a may be provided with a transverse projection or laterally extending pin 45b, and a threaded longitudinal extension 47a may be provided on the upper end of the post. The post 45a is thus insertable downwardly into the socket or hole 22a to a limiting position engaging the bottom wall of the latter hole; or, the post may be inserted internally threaded hole 500 for receiving a holding pin, dutchman or threaded member 48a, which may have a manual turning knob 49a. The arm or beam 460 is also preferably covered with detachable connection means, say fastener fabric or Velcro 51.

In assembly, the post extension 47a engages in the arm hole 44a, being held against relative rotation by the threaded member or pin 48a, so that the post and arm are held in a selected angular relation with respect to each other. As discussed hereinbefore, the post 45a is selectively insertable into the holes or sockets 21a and 22a for changing the elevation of the arm 46a. Of course, a sling, such as at 52 in the first described embodiment, may be extended between a pair of arms 46a for supporting a patients head in a desired relationship.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, a patients head can be positioned in a plane parallel to the focal planes of a dual probe or single probe rectilinear scanner. Also, it will be noted that the invention is adapted to be used with any instrument utilized to measure any emission, physical property or occurrence associated with a patients head. In addition, the headrest may be mounted inside the table, so as not to limit the positioning of a detecting instrument from any side or end of the examining table.

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest for a body supporting table comprising a pair of mounts adapted to be fixed at laterally spaced locations on the table, a post outstanding from each mount and independently selectively positionable relative to its respective mount, an arm extending from each post generally longitudinally of the table and positionable with said posts at selected elevations, a flexible head supporting sling extending between said arms, and relatively quick detachable connection means on said arms and said sling for removing and replaceably connecting said sling to said arms, thereby allowing a predetermined adjustment of the length of said sling between said arms; said mounts each. comprising a fixed member for firm attachment to the table, a shiftable member mounted on said fixed member for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally longitudinally of the table, tensioning means maintaining said fixed and shiftable means in abutting relation, and interfitting means on said shiftable and fixed members for releasably retaining said shiftable member at a selected position of rotation, and said posts each outstanding from a respective shiftable member for rotative shifting therewith between upstanding and inclined positions.

2. A headrest according to claim 1, said detachable connection means comprising a fastener fabric on each of said arms, and said sling complementary fastener fabric for detachable mating engagement with the fastener fabric of said arms.

3. A headrest according to claim 1, said arms being selectively rotatable relative to said posts between horizontal and inclined dispositions for supporting a users head horizontally and in inclined relation. 

1. A headrest for a body supporting table comprising a pair of mounts adapted to be fixed at laterally spaced locations on the table, a post outstanding from each mount and independently selectively positionable relative to its respective mount, an arm extending from each post generally longitudinally of the table and positionable with said posts at selected elevations, a flexible head supporting sling extending between said arms, and relatively quick detachable connection means on said arms and said sling for removing and replaceably connecting said sling to said arms, thereby allowing a predetermined adjustment of the length of said sling between said arms; said mounts each comprising a fixed member for firm attachment to the table, a shiftable member mounted on said fixed member for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally longitudinally of the table, tensioning means maintaining said fixed and shiftable means in abutting relation, and interfitting means on said shiftable and fixed members for releasably retaining said shiftable member at a selected position of rotation, and said posts each outstanding from a respective shiftabLe member for rotative shifting therewith between upstanding and inclined positions.
 2. A headrest according to claim 1, said detachable connection means comprising a fastener fabric on each of said arms, and said sling complementary fastener fabric for detachable mating engagement with the fastener fabric of said arms.
 3. A headrest according to claim 1, said arms being selectively rotatable relative to said posts between horizontal and inclined dispositions for supporting a user''s head horizontally and in inclined relation. 